Consultation on smoke-free, vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces

The government has launched a public consultation on proposals to ban smoking, vaping and the use of heated tobacco in public playgrounds, schools and healthcare settings in England, aiming to better protect children and medically vulnerable people. Under the plans, outdoor areas around hospitals and other healthcare locations would also become smoke‑free, while existing indoor smoking bans would be extended to cover vaping and heated tobacco products.

The proposals exclude outdoor hospitality venues, open public spaces, private homes and private outdoor areas, ensuring the focus remains on places where young people gather and where patients receive care.

These measures form part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which seeks to shift the NHS towards prevention by tackling the root causes of ill health and reducing long‑term pressure on services. Second‑hand smoke remains harmful even outdoors, particularly for children, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions. Short‑term exposure can cause irritation and respiratory symptoms, while long‑term exposure increases the risk of chronic disease.

Health leaders, including the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer, emphasised that no child or patient should be exposed to preventable harm and highlighted the significant health risks of second‑hand smoke. The consultation also sets out questions on issues such as outdoor boundaries, exemptions, designated smoking areas and approaches to public communication.

If implemented, the measures would support the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create a smoke‑free generation. Any regulations would come with at least six months’ notice and guidance for implementation, with enforcement aligned to existing smoke‑free laws, which historically have had high compliance.